Millage renewals, political offices on ballot for Acadiana

Millage renewals, political offices on ballot for Acadiana

Political offices also on Oct. 19 ballot

LAFAYETTE — A millage that generates about $770,000 a year to pay down debt for street and sewage improvements in New Ibera will be on the Oct. 19 ballot for residents of that city, while parish voters will be asked to also renew a 21.9-mill tax to support school projects.

New Iberia has a 10.43 millage rate for the debt service and a portion of that millage, 4 mills, will expire soon unless renewed by voters, New Iberia Mayor Hilda Curry said.

The 4 mills contributes about $770,000 of the total $2 million that is generated by the 10.43 mills, she said.

“It would really be detrimental to the city to lose this revenue because it’s debt that’s already incurred by the city for construction of the waste water plant and also wastewater rehab and street improvements,” Curry said. “It’s no increase in taxes. It’s the same amount of property tax that they’ve been paying for 20 years.”

The millage renewal is for 20 years and will continue to pay off bonds issued for the construction projects. Early voting begins Oct. 5 and ends Oct. 12.

Also, on the ballot, Iberia Parish residents will be asked to renew a 21.9 millage rate to support Iberia Parish Schools projects. The parish millage renewal would be dedicated to fund $50 million in major technology and renovations for public schools in the parish over the next four years.

Voters in Jeanerette will decide on a new mayor between April Foulcard, a Democrat, and Kenneth Kern, a Republican.

Foulcard, a town alderman, was appointed interim mayor in July following the death of Mayor Tim deClouet. Kern is an alderman representing Ward 4.

Voters also will decide between Leo Lee, a Democrat, and Christia “Tia” Simmons, no party, who are on the ballot to fill Foulcard’s alderman-at-large seat, while G. “Butch” Bourgeois, a Republican, and Willie “Poochie” Ward, a Democrat, seek the Ward 3 seat.